History of Egypt From 330 B.C. To the Present Time, Volume 12 (of 12) eBook

In so far as the cry raised of “Egypt for the
Egyptians” was a protest against forcing the
Egyptians to pay for an assumed indebtedness which
was at least four times greater than anything they
had actually received, no movement was ever more just
and righteous than the protest of the fellaheen against
foreign control, a movement which has been chiefly
associated with the name of Arabi Pasha. The issue
of Ismail’s financial troubles was most ignominious
and disastrous to Egypt, after nearly a hundred years
of heroic struggles to keep pace with the progress
of modern Europe. Had Ismail modelled his career
upon that of his illustrious grandfather, rather than
that of Napoleon III., with which it shows many striking
parallels, it is probable that the advantage secured
to Egypt through the British occupation might have
resulted in political and financial independence.
When the crash came, and the order for his deposition
was sent by the sultan, Ismail resigned the khedivate
in complete submission; and, taking away with him a
large private fortune and a portion of the royal harem,
he spent the remainder of his life in retirement at
Naples and Constantinople, and was buried with solemn
pomp in the royal cemetery at Cairo.

[Illustration: 190.jpg PART OF CAIRO, SHOWING
THE MULQUFS ON THE HOUSES OF MODERN EGYPT]

[Illustration: 191.jpg PAGE IMAGE]

CHAPTER IV—­THE BRITISH INFLUENCE IN EGYPT

Ismail deposed: Tewfik Pasha: Revolt
of Arabi Pasha: Lord Wolseley and the Battle
of Tel-el-Kebir: The Mahdist Rising: General
Gordon in the Sudan: Death of Gordon: The
Sudan abandoned and re-conquered: Battle of Onidurman:
Khartum College: Financial Stability: Abbas
II.: Education, Law, and the improved condition
of the Fellaheen: The Caisse de la Dette

The official deposition of Ismail Pasha by the sultan
of Turkey, Abdul Hamid, occurred on June 26, in the
year 1879, and his son Tewfik assumed the khedivate,
becoming practically the protege of England and Egypt.
To understand how this came to pass, it is necessary
to review the account of the financial embarrassments
of Ismail. In twelve years he had extracted more
than $400,000,000 from the fellaheen in taxes.
He had borrowed another $400,000,000 from Europe at
the same time, of which nominal sum he probably received
$250,000,000 in cash. The loans were ostensibly
contracted for public works. Possibly ten per
cent, of the borrowed money was profitably laid out.
The railways were extended; Upper Egypt was studded
with sugar factories,—­most of them doomed
to failure,—­and certain roads and gardens
were made about the city of Cairo.